Well tool



Filed April 25, 1957 L id VAT

CARPENTER 2,857,141

WELL TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l 1 Er Frank /7. Car 0e INVENTOR.

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ATTOR/VEVJ Oct'.'21, 1958 F. H. CARKPENTER 2,857,141

WELL TOOL Filed April 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fro/7k arpex7fer INVENTOR.

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Unite This invention relates to well tools, and, more particularly, relates to well tools having expansible and retractable scrapers or blades so that selective scraping, cutting or reaming may be provided in a well bore.

It would be advantageous in the drilling of oil wells to have a tool which may be incorporated into the drill string as a normal part thereof and which has normally retracted blades or cutters which do not interfere with other operations, but which includes means by which the blades or scrapers may be expanded quickly and readily to scrape, cut or ream, as required, and may subsequently be retracted so that the other operations may proceed without the necessity of removing and reinserting the drill string into the well bore for each operation. It would also be advantageous to have an improved scraper, cutter or reamer which may be utilized to selectively op.- erate as desired which is of simplified construction and easily and inexpensively manufactured and maintained and which is reliably efficient in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a well tool having laterally expansible and retractable scraper, cutter or reamer elements, which tool may be secured in a string of pipe in a well bore and does not interfere with operations being performed in the well bore, the scraper, cutter or reamer, elements being selectively expansible and retractable when desired.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a well tool having scraper, cutter or reamer elements which are normally retracted but which may selectively be expanded by mechanical means and yet which resiliently engage the surface to be scraped, cut or reamed.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved scraper, cutter or reamer which is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, easily repaired, and which is efficiently reliable and rugged use.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred example of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views, and where Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a well tool according to the invention shown in retracted position in casing in a well bore,

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but illustrates the well tool of Figure 1 in position to scrape the casing,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a scraper segment of the well tool of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, expanded view of the elements making up the cutter or scraper sections as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the reference numeral designates the tool, which is of elongate configuration so that it may be introduced into the casing 12 or a well bore, not shown, as

States Patent ice desired. Preferably, the well tool includes a generally tubular body 10 which has the threaded box 14 at its upper end for connection to the pipe 16 extending to the surface, not shown, and a lower threaded pin 18 for connection to the pipe 20 or to the operating string or other tools and parts, as desired. Thus, the well tool of the present invention may readily be secured in an operating string and may be provided with the usual and customary connections at each end for inserting it therein.

A flow passage 22 is provided in the generally tubular body 10 which communicates with and is substantially of the same size or diameter as the flow passages 24 and 26 in the pipe elements 16 and 20, respectively, of the operating string.

A plurality of laterally expansible and retractable cutter, scraper or reamer elements, generally indicated by the reference numeral 28, are disposed circumferentially about the body 10. Any suitable spacing or arrange-- ment may be utilized, as desired; however, spacing the cutters circumferentially on 120 centers and providing two sets of cutters staggered with respect to one another,

as shown, provide satisfactory and complete circum ferential cutting, reaming or scraping. Of course, one or more of such cutters may be provided, as desired.

A plurality of pockets or slots 30 is provided in the body 10 to receive the cutter, reamer or scraper elements 28 and there is provided an opening 32 in each pocket 30 into the flow passage 22 through which the projections 34 on the body elements 36 project for the purpose of expanding the cutter, reamer or scraper elements 28,

as will be described.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, to which reference is now made, the projections 34 may be substantially rounded projections which fit through the rounded openings 32 in the central portion of the pockets 28, although any preferred shape and arrangement may be utilized, as desired. It is highly advantageous to have the cutters, scrapers or reamers resiliently or yieldingly engage the wall of the casing or formation and, for this purpose, a spring 38 serves as the connection between the projections 34 and the plate-like body members 36.

Preferably, the plate-like body members should be curved to correspond with the curvature of the outer portion of the body 10 of the tool and are provided with the projecting cutter, scraper or reamer blades 40, which preferably should extend outwardly substantially the same distance as the projections 34 extend inwardly into the flow passage 22 of the body 10. Thus, when the projections 34 are projected through the openings 32 so that they are flush with the inner surface of the flow passage 22 the cutting, scraping or reaming elements 44 Willbe fully expanded yet, they will be of a minimum length so that they are strong and durable in use.

As shown, the blades or scrapers 40 may be made integral with the body plate 36 or may be secured thereto, as desired.

The cutter or scraper elements 40 and body member 36 are yieldingly held in retracted position by means of the springs 42 pressing against the upper and lower portions of the body member 36 and against the stop members 44 secured to the body 10 by the bolts 46, although they may be secured thereto by any desired means. The arrangement illustrated is desirable, however, as it permits removal and replacement of cutter, scraper, or reamer elements. In order to threadedly receive the bolts 46, what might be termed threaded lugs 48 are provided at each corner of the pocket 28 and the body member 36 is notched at its four corners, as at 50, for

Patented Oct. 21, 1958.

wardly. Once the means moving the projections 34 outwardly' has been removed, the-springs 42 quickly retract the cutter, scraper or reamer elements 28.

Mechanical means are provided to engage the projections 34 ofthecutter, reamer or scraper elements-28 and, to this end; a go-devil or'bar 52, as best seen in Figure 2, is provided which seats in the upper 54 and lower 56' annular seats in the flow passage 22. Thus, with'thego-devil or bar 52 in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the cutter, scraper or reamer elements 28 are resiliently and yiel'dinglyexpanded into engagement with either-the-wall ofthe casing orthe formation, as desired Once the cutting, reaming or scraping function has been performed, it is a relatively simple matter to fi'sh out'the'go-devil or bar 52 by a conventional fishing or grappling tool or to pump it out by reverse circulation. Ifdesired, a suitablehead may-be provided on the godevil to assist in this fishing it out of the operating string 16.

Thus, it is seenthatthe'welltool of the present invention constitutes, in" efiect, a part of the operating string except when'it is desired to either cut, scrape or ream. At this time, a go-devil or bar 52 is dropped or pumped into position which thereby yieldingly expands the cutter, reamer or scraper elements 28. Rotation of the operating string and movement either downwardly or upwardly accomplishes the cutting, scraping or reaming action, after which,-the'bar 52 may be removed and other operations performed, all without removing the operating string from the well bore.

The well-tool of the present invention may advantageously be used for a number of purposes. For example, it may be used to scrape theinside of casing following a perforating job, after drilling cement or bridging plugs, after drilling to relieve the casing of scale etc., for under-reaming, cutting and the like. Also, the scraper, cutter or reamerblades' may be engaged or disengaged at any desired time with a very few minutes delay. For example, it is common practice in drilling a bridging plugto' make atrip'out of the hole for a scraper" toscrape the area wherethe plug was set. After scraping thearea, ifmore drilling is necessary, another trip is made to remove the scraper out of the well bore and reinsert a bit. Thus, additional round trips are required in first removing the bit, inserting the scraper, removing the scraper and then reinserting the bit. In addition, in those'scrapers-Which are not retractable, the operating string cannot be rotated while going into or coming out ofthe hole due to "the cutting action of the blades which causesconsiderable delay. The well tool of the present invention enables the operator to insert the well tool in'theoperating string with the blades entirely retracted, drill the desired footage, engage the blades, scrape the drilling'area, disengage the blades and continue to drill or'do any other operation desired or necessary without coming-outof the hole. This, of course, is highly advantageous in that it saves a large amount of money spent for rig time in making these additional round trips into and out of the well bore."

The presentinvention,itherefore, is well suited to attain the objects and ends and has the advantages and features mentioned as well as others inh'erent therein.

While only a presently-preferred embodiment of the tool has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes indetails, arrangement of parts and'uses will readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Awell' tool comprising, an elongate body provided with an internal'passage and at'leastone external pocket, each'said pocket having an opening communicating with the internal passage, a blade element disposed in each pocket, means yieldingly maintaining each blade element retrae'tedineach pocket, aprojection extending through each opening into the interior of the internal passage and adapted to be engaged by an expander element in the passage for urging the projection outwardly, and means resiliently connecting the projection to the blade element whereby the blade element is yieldingly expanded upon outward movement of the projection.

2. A well tool comprising, an elongate body provided with an internal passage and at least one external pocket, each said pocket having an opening'communicating with the internal passage, a blade element disposed in each pocket, means yieldingly maintaining each blade element retracted in each pocket, a projection extending through each opening into the interior of the internal passage, means resiliently connecting the projection to the blade element, and an expander element adapted to seat in the passage and engage each projection and thereby urge each projection outwardly in each opening thereby yieldingly urging each blade element outwardly.

3. A well tool comprising, an elongate body provided with an internal passage and at least one external pocket, each said pocket having an opening communicating with the internal passage, a body in the pocket, a plurality of outwardly extending blades on the body, means yieldingly maintaining each body retracted in each pocket, a projection extending through each opening into the interior of the internal passage and adapted to be engaged by an expander element in the passage for urging the projection outwardly, and a spring connecting the projection and body whereby the body and blades are yieldingly expanded upon outward movement of the projection.

4. A well tool comprising, an elongate body provided with a substantially unrestricted and normally open flow passage throughout its length, means at least at the upper end of the body for connecting the body to an operating string, said body provided with at least one external pocket, each said pocket having an opening communicating with'the internal passage, a blade assembly disposed in each pocket, means yieldingly maintaining each blade assembly retracted in each pocket, a projection in force transmitting relationship with said blade assembly extending through each opening into the interior of the internal passage, at least one annular seat in the internal passage, and an expander member adapted to be inserted into the internal passage and seat on the seat for engaging and urging each projection outwardly thereby urging each blade assembly outwardly.

5. A well tool comprising, a generally elongate tubular body provided with a substantially unrestricted flow passage throughout its length, means at each end of the body for connecting the body in an operating string, said body provided with a plurality of external slots, each said slot having an opening'communicating with the flow passage, a blade assembly disposed in each slot, means yieldingly maintaining each blade assembly completely retracted within each pocket, a projection in force transmitting relationship with each said blade assembly extending through each opening into the internal passage, a seat in the internal passage and an expander adapted to be inserted into the internal passage and seat upon said seat and engage said projections and move them outwardly and thereby urge said blade assemblies outwardly.

6. The well tool of claim 5 in which there are at least two sets of axially-spaced slots, each set of slots being circumferentially spaced about the well tool and each set being staggered circumferentially with respect to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 206,242 Jeannerat et a1. July 23, 1878 789,867 McCallum May 16, 1905 1,893,693 Aloi Jan. 10, 1933 2,499,916 Harris Mar. 7, 1950 2,627,891 Clark Feb. 10, 1953 2,630,300 Emanuel Mar. 3, 1953 

